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The Transport of Hazardous Materials Across our Toll Facilities

Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) govern the transport of hazardous materials across our toll facilities. Under these regulations, vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695, the Baltimore Beltway) is a convenient alternative route for crossing Baltimore's Harbor.

Visit the Division of State Documents' website at www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/ to view the actual COMAR regulations: Title 11, Subtitle 7, Chapter 1 (11.07.01).

Oversize and/or Overweight Permit Process

Beginning May 1, 2009, the State Highway Administration (SHA) will administer a $25 permit fee on behalf of the Maryland Transportation Authority for the use of Authority maintained roadways. The $25 fee will cover all Authority roadways that may be used on the vehicle's identified permit route. The fee is applicable to the permit only anddoes not apply to any tolls incurred. SHA will also be administering the engineeringfee for superload moves on Authority roadways to further enhance the permitprocess. When applicable, the Authority engineering fee will be assessed by SHAand appear on the permit as part of the total cost. These fees will be in addition to any fees already imposed by SHA for the use of state highways it maintains and will beassessed on any permits for travel scheduled May 1 or later.

In addition, the current Class 7 toll will be eliminated effective May 1, 2009. Drivers who previously were charged a Class 7 toll will be charged a lower toll based on the number of vehicle axles. This allows for a single point of contact for permit requests and affords these drivers the convenience of E-ZPass for toll payment. These changes are part of the Authority's cost-recovery initiative that was approved Jan. 29, 2009, and will allow for a more effective hauling-permit system to process oversize and/or overweight vehicles traveling on State maintained and Authority owned roadways. The new fee structure will help ensure the Authority continues to maintain safe and efficient facilities for its commercial-vehicle customers.